I am a great believer in the idea that if you put a group of like-minded women entrepreneurs together, you make things happen. Ideas are shared, challenges find solutions, business gets done. On Thursday last week, you may have seen that we launched to the public an exciting new impact-driven initiative - the Absa Lionesses Xpo. This virtual, interactive exhibition platform aims to showcase and connect 117 South African women entrepreneurs from a wide range of business sectors with corporate buyers and decision-makers. It couldn’t have come at a better time. The aim is to provide a tangible and innovative way of addressing the challenge for women to access new market opportunities, particularly after so many businesses have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic this year. However, what was really interesting to see unfold was these 117 women entrepreneurs coming together as a mini-community before the Xpo actually went live to the public. They started reaching out to one another, doing business with each other, assisting one another with social media marketing, and finding ways to collaborate on new products and services. It was wonderful to see, and again reinforces my belief that when women entrepreneurs come together in a community, things happen. After all, that was my philosophy when starting Lionesses of Africa six years ago, and it is why we are still growing today!

Have yourself an inspired entrepreneurial day! — Melanie

Sign up today to receive the #1-rated newsletters for Africa's women entrepreneurs.